KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, June 11 -- Thousands of school children in remote villages of Soccsksargen Region returned to school last week in newly-built classrooms instead of the usual dilapidated, overcrowded, makeshift learning facilities.

Gemma Rivera, assistant regional director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 12 reported that 56 new classrooms were constructed across three provinces in Region 12 via the department’s Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan - Comprehenshive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS).

Rivera added that, the government spent a total of P33.53 million for these projects intended to help address the pressing concerns of classroom shortage and congestion.

At least 25 villages in Sarangani, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat provinces benefited from the said projects. Soccsksargen Region also includes the province of South Cotabato.

“Most of these school villages had gone far beyond the standard classroom-student ratio, denying accessible and quality education to young learners,” said Rivera.

In Sarangani province these classroom buildings were constructed in Seven Hills, Nomoh, Kabatiol, Kablacan and Daliao in Maasim town; Pangi, New La Union, Maguling, Ticulab, and Wali in Maitum; Lagundi, and Tambilil in Kiamba; as well as Kibala and Banahaw in Malungon.

The government poured in P22.24 million for these projects in Sarangani.

A total of P2.94 million worth of learning facilities were also recently opened in North Cotabato. Classroom buildings were constructed in Barangays Batiocan, Palao, Abaga and Montay in Libungan town.

In Sultan Kudarat, these projects are located in the villages of Kenram, Mapantig, and Kolambog in Isulan; Malegdeg in Senator Ninoy Aquino; Natividad in Columbio; and South Sepaka in Bagumbayan. The completed classrooms in Sultan Kudarat cost P8.35 million.

Rivera added that P5.95 million worth of new classrooms are also expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

These additional classrooms include those in the villages of Monteverde and Daluga in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat worth P4.06 million and an P1.89 million worth of classroom building in Tuanadatu Maasim in Sarangani

Construction in Tuanadatu was delayed due to armed conflict in the area; construction of the classroom building resumed recently.

The DSWD has constructed thousands of classrooms in the region since Kalahi-CIDSS started in 2003 through the financial support from the World Bank.

Rivera said in a report that the DSWD’s school building investments has now reached a total of P143 million region-wide.

Under the Kalahi-CIDSS project, control over decision, project implementation and resources rests on community.